The "unique" diary of Huoi Moi 1 village

Huoi Moi Village 1. Photo: Dao Tuan

This is the affirmation of the village chief Va Ba Thai when we "borrowed" him the "diary" of Huoi Moi village to see the records and events that took place during the year in this remote Mong village on the Pha Ca Tun range in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district.

Notes in the diary of Huoi Moi version 1. Photo: Dao Tuan

“On August 27, 2018, there was a petition for 2 households to migrate back to Laos.”

“On September 6, 2018, a delegation of district and commune judicial officials, commune police, and border guards came to verify, but no one accepted the petition.”

“October 4, 2018: The number of households with peach gardens reported to superiors is 31 households. 5 more households were added. The total number of households with peach gardens is 36 households”.

“Master Xong Pa De came to report that someone had stamped the wall and cut off the hands of his cows that were roaming freely in the area. The cows turned black and were stamped for about 2-3 days. During August and September, he lost 3 pigs to thieves who killed and ate them. He went to find one of them and found signs of someone killing it.”

Very honest and meticulous notes about what happened in Huoi Moi 1 village. Photo: Dao Tuan

Almost everything that happened in the village, including the smallest details, was recorded in full by the Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell, the Head of the village Huoi Moi and Ba Thai. The meticulousness made those who did not belong to this community initially surprised and delighted, but then found it very familiar.

Huoi Moi 1 Village is located on the Pha Ca Tun range - where Pu Hoat mountain peak is the highest in the Northwest region of Nghe An.

Roofs covered with sa mu wood in Huoi Moi 1. Photo: Dao Tuan

The Huoi Moi cluster consists of two villages, Huoi Moi 1 and Huoi Moi 2, which are Mong communities located about 30 minutes walk from each other. This is a particularly difficult area of ​​Tri Le commune, Que Phong district. While Huoi Moi 2 is mainly a gathering place for families who have returned from Laos, Huoi Moi 1 has settled here for a long time. Perhaps that is why Huoi Moi 1 looks more solid, beautiful and prosperous.

Border area signs are written in Lao. Photo: Dao Tuan

Huoi Moi Village has 83 households settled under the highest mountain range in the Northwest region of Nghe An, Pha Ca Tun. Photo: Dao Tuan

Huoi Moi 1 is the most beautiful Mong ethnic village in Western Nghe An - many people have the same opinion when they first set foot on the "roof" of the Northwest region of Nghe An. Huoi Moi has more than 80 sa mu tiled houses built on the mountain slope. The village has a population of nearly 500 people. Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell, Head of Huoi Moi Village Va Ba Thai said that the village is still poor with a poverty rate of 50%. "But it is very different from before. No one is hungry, it is likely that in 2019 the number of poor households in the village will decrease to 42%".

Located on a terrain of more than 1,000m above sea level, Huoi Moi 1 leans against the border with Laos. From the center of Tri Le commune, you can ride a motorbike to the village. Huoi Moi 1 has no fields, each household only has a piece of rice field at the foot of the mountain, to get there takes nearly half a day.

But for the Mong people, that is not very important, as long as there is land to sow rice and corn. The villagers do not have land for production, but there are thousands of hectares of forest. These are special-use forests and protective forests under the management and protection of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve. Strict protection of the national forest is one of the key objectives of all households in the village.

Huoi Moi 1 has more than two dozen families contracted to protect the forest, but the money they receive is not owned by individuals but is divided among all households and a portion is added to the village fund to maintain community activities.

People of Huoi Moi 1 dig ponds on the mountain to raise fish. Photo: Dao Tuan

Regarding poverty reduction, the Party Cell and the Village Management Board “listened” to the district, commune and border guards to implement many methods. That is to promote the strengths of the people, develop and increase the number of cows, black pigs and black chickens. Thanks to that, from 100 cows, the village now has more than 300 cows.

In the village, there are households that enclose forests and raise 30-40 cows. Each household raises 5-7 black pigs, and some households raise 20 chickens, while others raise 50. After one batch, they raise another. Many of the livestock and poultry are sold at the end of the year.

Village chief Va Ba Thai (left) is 36 years old this year. He is trusted by the community for his enthusiasm and responsibility. Photo: Dao Tuan

People's income also comes from many crops considered specialties of the Mong people such as: melon, taro, squash, peach. According to the calculation of the village chief Va Ba Thai, in Huoi Moi 1 there are 2 hectares of taro, each season a family earns nearly 6 million VND; in the squash and melon season each household also has an additional income of 2 million VND.

Especially with peach trees, on average each family earns 10-15 million VND from selling branches during Tet, not to mention selling peach fruit. These are the ways for the Huoi Moi 1 people to escape poverty and backwardness.

Tri Le Primary School, Huoi Moi 1 village. Photo: Dao Tuan

Teacher and student. Photo: Dao Tuan

At Huoi Moi 1, there is a row of 3 classrooms, where primary school students study. This is one of the "branches" of Tri Le Primary School, Huoi Moi 1 village.

My class time. Photo: Dao Tuan

100% of school-age children go to school – this is the affirmation of Village Chief Va Ba Thai. “The literacy, understanding and knowledge of the village also depends on the teachers and the school” – Ba Thai added.

And what is more obvious about the children of Huoi Moi village is that they are very obedient and friendly. No matter who you are, if you come to the village, the children will all fold their arms in front of their chests: "Hello teacher, hello teacher".

"Hello, uncle." Photo: Dao Tuan

Returning to the diary of Huoi Moi 1, the village chief Va Ba Thai carefully recorded and listed many contents and events that took place in the village. This can be considered a very important document that when looking for information about any household, any date, any event that happened in the area, it is all fully recorded. The simple handwriting seems to tell the story of the community, from small things like losing a chicken, a husband and wife arguing to important things like: a stranger coming to the village, the Great Unity Festival or the village organizing Independence Day September 2.

In particular, the book also lists 83 households in neat and orderly lines corresponding to 12 months of the year. Every month, the village organizes a meeting. Any household that does not send someone to attend the meeting will be marked and will be fined from 5,000 to 10,000 VND for each absence.

Reunion in Huoi Moi 1. Photo: Dao Tuan

Any family whose husband and wife quarrel and raise their voices, causing the village to “lose effort” to reconcile, will be “punished” with a meal with all the members of the “board” of the village management board. Behaviors that affect the community will be reprimanded, criticized and fined. The fines will be added to the village fund to support education promotion activities and community welfare activities.

Chief of Huoi Moi 1 village and Ba Thai. Photo: Dao Tuan

“Although the village has no village charter, all the regulations before being implemented are discussed at the Party cell with the contributions of 14 Party members, then presented in village meetings for discussion and consensus. The purpose is for the village to be peaceful and have a more prosperous life” – Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell Va Ba Thai smiled brightly.